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what is the average cost of a dedicated server?

i want to set up a website for my small business, basically not expecting too much traffic...but the general consensus has been against shared servers. I need to get an idea of the cost of having a dedicated server? Including upfront costs and monthly outlays.

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1. Shared server 8 GB $14.95 Virtual Dedicate Server 5G $14.95 Dedicated server 160G $189 There are no details in your question, but you say you are not expecting much traffic. I wonder if you have decided on dedicated for the wrong reasons. Shared hosting on UNIX/Linux is very safe, Your site main user has no access outside of your root. What this means is that you can not see inside other hosted areas and neither can they see into yours. The same is not true on a Windows shared host. I had to set one up when I did a .NET project, both on the host for the site and the seperate host for the database I could see the name of every other username on the systems. When I showed this to the people who I was doing the contract for they immediately agreed to let me put the project on a Linux server with PHP-Ajax-MySQL, 100% safer. The next level (after Linux shared hosting) is Virtual dedicated server. This is a VM (Virtual Machine) you get to select your own operating system. Some will offer the shared kernel others will offer your own kernel. Go for your own kernel, then everything in your VDS (virtual dedicated server) is your own. It is entirely private, your own IT can install applications and easily add domains as and when you want them. You get ssh access (secure connection, to maintain the VM, view logs etc. You can also use it to some extent for applications that are not in your public area (where your websites are). For example secure tunnels for office and out of office staff, then share documents and databases. This is not and is unlikely to ever be true VPN. But so near you are likely to not notice the difference. The next level is the private dedicated server. I know others will disagree with this, so don't take it as the only opinion on this. But I would never use a dedicated physical server, you have great expense, assume $180 per month, but you do not have the main advantages of a server that you own. You are as limited as you would be in the much cheaper shared hosting. You have the advantages of VDS. But you have the limits. You see you set up the server, or the hosts do for you, then you go in first time, setup your domains, can script the setting up of users, great so far. But then you say, well since this is our own server lets get some applications on there, real java applications. But no, you bought yourself a sever, you did not necessarily buy a comms link. Hosted applications is very expensive in terms of bandwidth. Hosts know this and will choke you. They can not let you take more than your share of the shared bandwidth that the host has to offer. You will sit there after a time and be wondering what the advantage of a dedicated host actually is. I can tell you, there is no advantage at all. Even a hardware error, a VDS (virtual dedicated server) should there be a hardware problem the mirror server will kick in. If the server you are on is coming to a service time, your VDS can be copied in the same way you copy a file, to another server and you wont notice that anything has changed. You can not do the same with a dedicated server, to mirror you your host would have to ask you for the cost of two machines. Your drives will be raid mirrored, but your server definately is not. VDS has all of the advantages of dedicated, but it has a long list of extra advantages too. So forget dedicated and instead go for Virtual Dedicated Server. You will save yourself a lot of money too. The link is to my own favourite host, when I do this work it is the first I recommend (and I only ever reccomend UNIX/Linux). I have not known any downtime for what must be ten years. The range of applications in control panel is good, you can add more, the access for developers is excellent.
2. if you think you need the most relible solution and full control,you'd better buy a dedicated server with about $89/month. Read dedicated server review here: http://www.dedicated-server-review.org Hope this helps
3. Bob M has some good answers. And yes, we don't have enough details. If trying to set up a Linux server on your own, here are some other links to "howtos": I used: http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect-server-ubuntu8.04-lts or Generic: http://www.howtoforge.com/howtos/linux and for web management: http://www.ispconfig.org/ You need an ISP that allows port 80 to be forwarded to your web server (some block it to prevent home web servers - check first) Cost is only a server PC, your time (or a friend helping lol), and your monthly internet costs plus domain registration if actually buying a domain name ($10-$30/year approx) Look into free domain names at services like DynDNS or DtDNS if you don't want to pay for a specific name.
4. You can buy a server outright and host it at many small ISPs. For your needs, probably about $1000 if enough for you box. MonkeyBrains.net will sell you that server, or lease it to you at $125/month. The lease is on top of the $125/month colocation fee... if you sign a year agreement, we can waive the setup fee -- always ask for that when you host somewhere. Month to month has a $50 setup fee. Here is what you want: two disks with RAID, 4GB RAM, a dual core CPU. When you get a disk, make sure to get ones with 5 year warranties (enterprise level) and not desktop (3 year) disks. The extra $100 for a hot-swap case if probably worth it down the line. Most likely, a pair of 500GB disks will be ample for you. This model: WD5000ABPS is perfect and is better for the environment. RAID is important so when a disk dies, the other keeps the boat afloat. Oh, make sure you have the system set up to email you when a disk does die so you can replace it. Software RAID is fine for your needs, but if you feel the need, get a 3ware card. Avoid on-motherboard RAID options. AMD vs Intel? Doesn't matter for you. 2 cores costs the same as one core these days, so you want at least 2 cores.... That will help with any bad programming on the backend. RAM is cheap. Get at least 4GB. Oh, and decent motherboards support at least 8GB of ram for single CPU systems. Something like a TYAN TRANSPORT barebones system or a SUPERMICRO X7SBi motherboard will suit your needs. Get ECC RAM. Want more info? Search wikipedia for things like ECC, RAID, etc. If you want to host with MonkeyBrains, drop an email to colo@monkeybrains.net